Texas Young Autism Project

Autism Clinic Houston

We’d like to introduce The Texas Young Autism Project, an organization that is dedicated to improving the lives of special needs children and their families. They provide personalized ABA services that are unique to the needs of every child and help children on the spectrum achieve better results through cognitive behavioral therapy, speech therapy, feeding programs, and more.

Additionally, they offer adjustable schedules and weekend availability for busier families. To learn more about the Texas Young Autism Project, check out our interview article with Dr. Geri M. Harris, the Chief Operations Officer.

Geri, please tell us a little bit about your organization… 

We are a clinical-psychology office specializing in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) treatment for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). We have two licensed clinical psychologists on staff, as well as several Board Certified Behavioral Analysts (BCBAs) to evaluate, diagnose, and design a custom treatment plan for your child. We also offer individual and family counseling services to children, teenagers, and adults struggling with mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, ASD, social problems, or difficulty adjusting to the general stressors of life. We conduct evaluations to aid in treatment recommendations to anyone who would like help.

What makes Texas Young Autism Project special? 

We are the original ABA treatment center in Houston, Texas, and were started with direct training from one of the pioneers of ABA, Dr. O. Ivar Lovaas. We have an excellent team of behavior technicians, including Master’s and Doctoral level students. We truly care about every client whom we treat. Your time with us will be well spent on an individualized treatment program.

What was it that made you want to start this business?

My father, a clinical psychology professor at the University of Houston, began the business in the late 1990s at the University after receiving training directly from Dr. Ivar Lovaas. Once we realized that we could provide services that would inspire a positive change in the lives of children and families, we expanded the business to offer services in both Houston and Katy.

Why do you both love being a business owner?

We love being business owners because it allows us the flexibility to take on the more challenging cases with whom many organizations do not want to deal with. We are also able to stay open on most major holidays so that treatment continues uninterrupted. And most importantly, we can provide a positive workspace for mental health care workers who are looking to gain experience in the field. The combination of helping clients and staff simultaneously is unbeatable!

Where do you Texas Young Autism Project in the following years?

 We have recently completed a full renovation of our clinic and we cannot wait to show it to you! In the next year, we are working to upgrade our telehealth services to increase accessibility even during difficult times. Within the next five years, we hope to open another treatment service center in an underserved area so that parents can obtain treatment for their families without having to be inconvenienced daily.

What is your mission statement?

We are dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of children.

What are the biggest issues for running this business?

We are always trying to serve more clients. More specifically, we want to make ABA a possibility for all children, not only those born into affluent families or with excellent insurance. This can be a tall order as ABA is so labor and time intensive but we are constantly striving to reduce costs while still providing adequate compensation for our employees.

How is your team structured?

Both clinics are led by clinical psychologists and BCBAs. Senior therapists with the most experience working under BCBAs to manage teams of behavior technicians. We also have a staff of business personnel working tirelessly to encourage insurance companies to continue approving treatment for families. Currently, we have approximately 50 employees.

Where can people learn more about your business?

Please check out our website at www.texasyoungautismproject.com to learn more about all the services we provide. You can also call our main office at 713-353-0254 to speak directly to a BCBA who will help guide you through the application process.